UConn rallies past West Virginia in OT thriller

Kevin Duffy

Updated 12:33 am, Thursday, March 8, 2012

Connecticut's Shabazz Napier, left, and Alex Oriakhi celebrate their win over West Virginia during the second round of the Big East NCAA college basketball conference tournament against West Virginia in New York, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. Connecticut beat West Virginia in overtime 71-67. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Connecticut's Shabazz Napier, left, and Alex Oriakhi celebrate...

Connecticut's Shabazz Napier takes the ball to the hoop during the second round of the Big East NCAA college basketball conference tournament against West Virginia in New York, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. Connecticut beat West Virginia in overtime 71-67. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Connecticut's Shabazz Napier takes the ball to the hoop during the...

Connecticut's Shabazz Napier reacts after making a basket during the second round of the Big East NCAA college basketball conference tournament against West Virginia in New York, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. At right is West Virginia's Darryl Bryant. Connecticut beat West Virginia in overtime 71-67. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Connecticut's Shabazz Napier reacts after making a basket during...

West Virginia's Kevin Jones, right, is defended by Connecticut's Alex Oriakhi during the second round of the Big East NCAA college basketball conference tournament in New York, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. Connecticut beat West Virginia in overtime 71-67. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

West Virginia's Kevin Jones, right, is defended by Connecticut's...

Connecticut's Ryan Boatright, center, jumps past West Virginia's Dominique Rutledge, left, and Kevin Jones during the second round of the Big East NCAA college basketball conference tournament in New York, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. Connecticut beat West Virginia in overtime 71-67. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Connecticut's Ryan Boatright, center, jumps past West Virginia's...

Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun reacts during a game against West Virginia in the second round of the Big East NCAA college basketball conference tournament in New York, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. Connecticut beat West Virginia in overtime 71-67. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun reacts during a game against...

Connecticut's Shabazz Napier, left, is fouled by West Virginia's Deniz Kilicli during the second round of the Big East NCAA college basketball conference tournament in New York, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. Connecticut beat West Virginia in overtime 71-67. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Connecticut's Shabazz Napier, left, is fouled by West Virginia's...

West Virginia's Gary Browne, left, and Connecticut's Shabazz Napier fight for a ball during the second round of the Big East NCAA college basketball conference tournament in New York, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. Connecticut beat West Virginia in overtime 71-67. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

West Virginia's Kevin Jones, left, looks looks to shoot past Connecticut's Alex Oriakhi (34) during the second round of the Big East NCAA college basketball conference tournament in New York, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

West Virginia's Kevin Jones, left, looks looks to shoot past...

Connecticut's Jeremy Lamb, center, makes the basket and is fouled by West Virginia's Deniz Kilicli, left, while Kevin Jones looks on during the second round of the Big East NCAA college basketball conference tournament in New York, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Connecticut's Jeremy Lamb, center, makes the basket and is fouled...

West Virginia's Jabarie Hinds, left, tries to hang onto the ball against UConn defenders during the second round of the Big East NCAA college basketball conference tournament in New York, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

West Virginia's Jabarie Hinds, left, tries to hang onto the ball...

West Virginia's Aaron Brown, center, looks to pass through Connecticut defenders during the second round of the Big East NCAA college basketball conference tournament in New York, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

West Virginia's Aaron Brown, center, looks to pass through...

Connecticut's Alex Oriakhi, right, drives against West Virginia's Dominique Rutledge during the second round of the Big East NCAA college basketball conference tournament in New York, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Connecticut's Alex Oriakhi, right, drives against West Virginia's...

West Virginia's Darryl Bryant is fouled by Connecticut's Roscoe Smith, left, during the second round of the Big East NCAA college basketball conference tournament in New York, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

West Virginia's Darryl Bryant is fouled by Connecticut's Roscoe...

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 07: Shabazz Napier #13 of the Connecticut Huskies shoots against Gary Browne #14 of the West Virginia Mountaineers during their second round game of the 2012 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Photo: Jim McIsaac, Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 07: Shabazz Napier #13 of the Connecticut...

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 07: Ryan Boatright #11 of the Connecticut Huskies goes to the hoop against Dominique Rutledge #1, Kevin Jones #5 and Gary Browne #14 of the West Virginia Mountaineers during their second round game of the 2012 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

NEW YORK -- He's talked an awful lot, he's gone through his slumps and he's had his bright moments as well.

The same kid who notched a triple-double -- the ninth in UConn's history -- suffered a hideous 6-for-40 shooting slump, which helped send the Huskies into a month-long tailspin. He publicly questioned the heart of his teammates, and then delivered a season-saving 30-footer in overtime against Villanova. He'll take 18 shots in some games; as few as three in others.

He's always been a different person, coach Jim Calhoun insisted, and Wednesday, he was "a different player."

Shabazz Napier, the wild card in a completely unpredictable season, went on a 9-0 run by himself in 1:29 to force overtime against West Virginia. And when he fouled out with 2:35 remaining, his teammates -- the guys he's doubted, praised, bickered with, and hugged -- sealed the deal.

Jeremy Lamb hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:05 left in the extra session as ninth-seeded UConn defeated the No. 8 Mountaineers, 71-67, and likely assured itself a spot in next week's NCAA tournament.

Napier, who was assessed two fouls in 25 seconds to earn the disqualification -- "It was shock," he said, "I didn't know I had four fouls" -- watched West Virginia shoot 0-for-11 in the overtime while UConn, which had been pounded on the interior, tightened its defense down the stretch.

Any comeback, Napier conceded, starts on the defensive end.

"The hardest thing to do is get a defensive stop," said Napier, who finished with a game-high 26 points. "It's more about fire. A lot of people don't want to do it ... when it happens, everyone gets going."

Napier picked the pockets of Dominique Rutledge and Gary Browne at midcourt on consecutive possessions and coasted in for a pair of layups, the second of which knotted the score, 63-63. At that point, he had already knocked down four 3-pointers and scored 20 points in the second half.

Napier's contested 3-point attempt near the top of the key -- a shot that would have won the game at the buzzer -- clanked off the front rim and overtime ensued.

"I thought Shabazz was close to magnificent today," Calhoun said.

UConn's frontcourt, on the other hand, wasn't quite as close. At least not for the first 35 minutes.

In the Huskies' early January come-from-behind victory over West Virginia, Andre Drummond was "special," Calhoun said. In this one, Drummond and the UConn frontcourt was simply overmatched.

On a play midway through the second half, Drummond had the ball first, then Alex Oriakhi got his hands on it. Both seemed to have a chance at the defensive rebound -- a rare sight -- and somehow, it landed in the arms of West Virginia forward Kevin Jones, who laid it in to give the Mountaineers a 43-36 edge.

There was plenty more where that came from.

It was West Virginia's 16th offensive board, and the Mountaineers would collect an additional 10 before the game -- their last in the Big East -- was over.

Jones, a first team All-Big East selection, led the Mountaineers with 25 points and 10 rebounds. But, thanks in part to Drummond, he went 0-for-4 from the field and scored just two points in the final 13:35.

"I think with 10 minutes to go -- and my guys would tell you the same thing -- Andre Drummond grew up a little bit," Calhoun said. "He made a hell of a play and held (Jones) and did a wonderful job."

Trailing by three late in overtime, Jones missed a jumper and Daryl "Truck" Bryant -- West Virginia's other senior captain -- turned the ball over.

"We don't do a good job of staying strong with the ball," Jones said. "We let people take the ball from us, and it's kind of a matter of getting out-toughed in the last five minutes."

Jeremy Lamb scored 12 of UConn's first 20 points, and did so on a variety of moves: He came off screens for spot-up jumpshots, but also drove to the basket and drew contact for an early 3-point play.

He finished with 22, none bigger than the final three that broke the tie, causing Napier -- clutching a white towel -- to rapidly pump his fist and celebrate on the sidelines. He'd later yell at Ryan Boatright for missing three of four free throws in the final minute, but in the end, it was all praise.

"I have faith in my teammates, no matter what," Napier said. "I know Jeremy, I know Boat, I know Andre and those guys are going to miss me, but I love watching them play because they play with a lot of heart."